Structural connecting and supporting unit



STR CTU AL CONNECTING AND SUPPORTING UNIT I P. KRATZMAIER Filed Feb.28,. 1945' 'INVENTORQ' I Pdqx/ MWIZ/ya/ Patented Aug. 27, 1946STRUCTURAL CONNECTING AND SUPPORTING UNIT Paul Kratz maier, Kansas City,Mo.

Application February 28, 1945, Serial No. 580,188

6 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to building structures and the like, withparticular reference to prefabricated work of this character, and aimsto provide practical improved units or assemblies with a view tosimplifying the preparation-of the parts of such constructions as wellas the work of assembling the same.

Accordingly an important object of the invention is to devise animproved and simplified unit or assembly which will serve as anefflcient joint or connecting means for suitable panel sheets, byclamping engagement with the edges thereof, (without requiring the useof screws or bolts or like fastening means), and at the same time act assturdy stud or supporting means for such panel structure without thenecessity of providing other skeleton framework for the supportingfunction.

It is likewise an object of the invention to provide equally practicalunits or assemblies for serving as connecting and supporting means forsuch panel work at the corners or partitions of commercial buildingconstructions and the like, where these types of prefabricated materialsare adapted to be used with economical and efflcient results.

The invention further contemplates an improved construction which isadapted not only for producing smooth and finished exterior surfaces,but which also provides for accommodating all the usual or necessaryutilities as regards plumbing, insulation materials, etc., whilepermitting repairs or replacements to be taken care of as may berequired.

With the foregoing general objects in view the invention will now bedescribed by reference to the accompanying drawing illustrating anexample of construction suitable for the embodiment of my proposedimprovements, after which those features and combinations deemed to benovel and patentable will be particularly set forth and claimed.

In the drawing-- v Figure 1 i a plan view illustrating a typicalsectional panel and corner construction having prefabricated connectingand supporting assemblies embodying the present features of improvement;and

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view of one of the ti or clampingelements forming a part of connecting and supporting assemblies.

Referring now to the said drawing in detail, this illustrates theapplication of my improvements in relation to wall construction, of thedouble and spaced panels type, including corner posts and intermediatestudding or other supporting means, partition walls and connections oraccessories.

Accordingly, panel-forming sheets 5 of metallic material, of any desiredsize and gage, are appropriately shaped at their sides or end edges toform transverse inwardly projecting end portions 1 which in turn areagain bent at acute angles to form terminal flange portions 9'projectingin the direction of the body portion of the panels.

For connecting adjoining panel units or sections a combination stud andpanel-connecting means is employed in the form of an assembly comprisinga pair of bracing and clamping elements l0 and a connector clampingelement l2 cooperating with said pair of bracing elements for clampingthe flange portions 9 of the panel sections. Each of the bracing membersI!) is of a width corresponding to the space between the sheets 5 of thepanel sections, and is formed with side flanges H projecting inconverging relation for bringing said flanges I I into clampingengagement with one face of each of the corresponding panel flanges 9.

The connector element 12 is constructed by joining together two similarflanged members, that is, having body portions of a width approximatingthat of the space between the end portions 1 of the panels and joinedback to back and with the flanges 14 thereof projecting in divergingrelation or at appropriate angles for cooperating with the flanges IIfor effecting secure clamping engagement with the flanges 9 of the panelsections, as illustrated in Figure 1.

Thus a firm and rigid supporting structure is provided at the jointsbetween panel sections, which affords not only all the necessaryconnecting means between the sections but also provides adequate bracingor supporting means due to the abutting engagement of the transverseprojections and the bracing of the body portions of the clamping membersl0 against the inner faces of both sides of the panel sections, and allbonded securely together by means of the tie and clamping members I2with their flanges l4, and thus eliminating the necessity for any otheror accessory steel frame supporting structures of any kind such as areusually required.

It is obvious that the elements of construction just described arereadily adaptable to corner and partition wall assemblies, asillustrated in Figure 1.

For example, for corner post structures a suitable corner housing I6 isformed with inturned right angle projections l8 for abutting against theouter transverse projections l of corresponding panel sections of thewall and terminating in diverging flanges l8; and for abutting againstthe inner projections I of the wall panels a right angle comer piece 20is provided as a filler having the angular or converging flanges 2| forclamping engagement between the flanges ll of the tie members l2 and theflanges ll' of the clamping members II). In this relation it will beseen that the clamping members l and tie members l2 serve the samefunction as above described for the combination stud and panelstructure, while the accessory clamping elements it) function primarilyas clamping means for anchoring said tie members to the corner postassembly.

For branch panel sections, such as partition walls and the like, a jointconnection may be made at right angles to the flrst wall, as by securingone of the connector or tie members I2 to the outer face of one of thepanel sheets 5; this connection may be made by welding or by means of aself-threading screw l5 as illustrated. The clamping members In alsoform part of such assembly, for panel securing and bracing purposes,thus providing a stud construction as before.

It is deemed preferable in shaping the tie, or connecting and clampingmembers I2, to taper the same off somewhat toward one end, asillustrated at H in Figure 2, for facilitating the assembly of the sameinto their operative or panelconnecting relation.

It will thus be apparent from the foregoing that an efilcient andeconomical structural assembly is provided for carrying out all thedesired objects of the invention, both as an effective connecting andclamping means between panel sections, and also as a rigid and sturdycolumn or supporting stud and stress member for the joints occurringbetween adjoining panels or wall sections. The improvements are ofcourse adapted for varied uses or applications, in the construction ofwalls, floors, roofs, or structural work of any similar character. Onegreat advantage of the improved construction is its selfcontainedstructural sufllciency, in requiring no additional supporting means, andalso the elimination of the use of the extra fastening means such asscrews, bolts and the like, and without sacrificing any security orrigidity in the finished assembly. Another important advantage is theprovision of a double-panel construction in which both sides arecompleted with a smooth exterior finish needing no further flnishingtreatment, or any additional trim or finishing materialalthough such maybe added if preferred.

Moreover the provision of the interwall space by being properly shapedin their prefabricated but unassembled condition.

Moreover it is pointed out that'the improved construction is such as toinsure ease of repair,-

or the replacement of any section, at any location or point in any giveninstallation where such repair operation becomes necessary.

In some installations such as floors, roofs or like construction wherean extension of the interwall spacing makes it necessary, conventionalmeans such as suitable channel members 20 may be employed as needed toabsorb the additional stresses, as indicated in Figure 1.

Also suitable moisture sealing means, for example the roll and beadstructure indicated at 35 in Figure 1, may readily be introduced in somecases, as in roof panel construction, if desired.

Itwill be understood, of course, that any size and gage of metal stripsor sheets 5 may be employed, and that the joints or connectingassemblies may run either vertically or horizontally or in anydirection; and also that the clamping elements I2 may be constructed inany size and length and therefore need not be made to run continuous,throughout the assembly in all cases.

While I have illustrated and herein described a very practical andemcient embodiment of the improvements comprising my invention, it isobvious that various formal changes and modifications may readily bemade while still embracing the essential characteristics of theinvention; and I therefore desire to be understood as reserving theright to make such variations and modifications as may fairly fallwithin the spirit and scope of my invention as deflned by the appendedclaims.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. Structural connecting and supporting means of the character describedcomprising, a pair of sheets of material having transversely extendingportions in abutting relation and terminating in securing flanges, arigidly held supporting structure comprising a clamping and supportingelement engaging each of said sheets of material, and a tie clampingmember having marginal portions cooperating with said supportingelements for effecting clamping engagement with said securing flanges.

2. Structural connecting and supporting means of the character describedcomprising,a pair of sheets of material in spaced relation and havingtransversely extending portions in coplanar relation for abuttingpurposes and terminating in securing flanges, and combination clampingand fixed and rigidly held supporting means comprising a supportingmember engaging both of said sheets of material and a clamping elementhaving marginal clamping portions cooperating with said supportingmember and effecting clamping engagement with both of said securingflanges.

3. Structural connecting and supporting means of the character describedcomprising, two pairs of sheets of material each having transverselyextending portions in abutting relation and terminating in securingflanges, said pairs of sheets being arranged in spaced relation, andcombination clamping and supporting means comprising an interiorsupporting member engaging both sheets of material of each pair, and aclamping element having marginal clamping portions cooperating with bothof said supporting members for effecting clamping engagement with all ofsaid securing flanges.

4. Structural connecting and supporting means of the character describedcomprising, a pair of diverging securing flanges, a combination clampingand securing means comprising a fixed and rigidly held supporting memberengaging both of said sheets of material and formed with convergingsides, and a clamping element having diverging marginal portionscooperating with both sides of said supporting member and efiectingclamping engagement with both of said-securing flanges.

5. Structural connecting and supporting means of the type describedcomprising, two pairs of sheets of material each having transverselyextending portions in abutting relation and terminating in angularlybent securing flanges, said pairs of sheets being arranged in spacedrelation, and combination clamping and supporting means comprising aninterior supporting member engaging both of said sheets of material ofeach pair and formed with converging sides, and a clamping elementhaving marginal clamping portions cooperating with the converging sidesof both of said supporting members for eflecting clamping engagementwith all said securing flanges.

6. A structural comer assembly of the characof the outer sheets ofmaterial, a filler member in abutting relation to the transverseportions of both of the inner sheets of material, an interior supportingmember engaging both sheets of material of each pair thereof, andclamping means cooperating with each of said supporting members and alsowith said filler member for effecting clamping engagement with all saidsecuring flanges.

PAUL KRATZMAIER.

